Ran across a person once who, when unable to find a way to convince someone else in the organization that things ought to be done his way, would invoke the mantra, “But I’m you’re customer, right?” This was almost always done to enforce some perceived relationship between the internal supplier – be it a provider [...]
Meeting management = being considerate
May 16, 2011 By 2 Comments
The more experience I get with working on project teams, the more frustrated I get with the way most of those teams go about their work. I think we’ve all had enough of meetings that never start on time, long conversations that involve only one-third of the people in attendance, and the need to call another meeting since this meeting didn’t get anything accomplished.
Project overrun, and/or become a hurried pile of chaotic activities, all squished together in hopes of meeting some arbitrary deadline. So, here’s a few simple things I think project managers can do to make sure their teams, and their deliverables, are a little bit better off: [Read more]
Put out the fire or prevent the fire?
April 11, 2011 By 2 Comments
Anyone can respond to a fire – it’s survival instinct to do so. If you want to lead, you have to get out in front and prevent the fire.
Now, here’s the problem and, quite possibly, a paradox: The only way you can get away from all the fires you’re fighting is to let them burn. [Read more]
The Ridiculous JIT Discussion
March 28, 2011 By 2 Comments
More Lean(er) project management, part 5
March 11, 2011 By 2 Comments
This is the final installment in my series on Lean concepts and project management. Last time, I discussed Overprocessing and Overproduction. Now, it’s time to discuss the somehwat controversial 8th Waste: Wasted human creativity. Here are Lean’s 8 wastes: Waiting Motion Inventory Transportation Defects Overprocessing Overproduction Wasted human creativity Wasted Human Creativity Also referred to [...]
More Lean(er) project management, part 4
March 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
This is the 4th part in my series on Lean concepts and project management. Last time, I discussed the wastes of Transportation and Defects. Today, I’m going to talk about Overprocessing and Overproduction. Here are Lean’s 8 wastes: Waiting Motion Inventory Transportation Defects Overprocessing Overproduction Wasted human creativity Overprocessing Overprocessing occurs when additional work is [...]
More Lean(er) project management, part 3
March 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We’re in the midst of talking about Lean concepts and project management. Last time out, I discussed Lean’s concepts of wasted Motion and Inventory and how they related it to the habits of running from useless meeting to useless meeting and the potential dangers of disrupting a project’s flow by finishing tasks early.In the 3rd [...]
PDCA doesn’t stand for “Perform Doubtless, Confident Acts”
February 16, 2011 By 4 Comments
Fact of the matter is, the only way of achieving excellence is to allow for failure. That’s done by pushing the limits, even if just a little bit, and embracing humility. [Read more]
The connection: Mura, Muri and Muda
November 1, 2010 By 4 Comments
Through mechanisms such as this, mura (unevenness in operations) and muri (overburdening of people) become a part of the workplace. While trying to plow through a cycle of high pressure and, consequently, worry and fatigue, we are not busy looking at the muda (waste & inefficiency) with an eye for improvement. Instead, we are focused only on getting through the day, only to come back tomorrow and do it again the next day. We stop creating, breathing, living and we start only existing, hoping only to survive. Improvement becomes impossible as concern for one another is replaced with detachment and indifference. [Read more]
Northeast Shingo Conference: What I Heard
October 20, 2010 By 4 Comments
While it will take weeks to fully chew on all that was presented and develop some personal reflections on what I was exposed to at the conference, there were some immediate, powerful take-aways that will leave lasting impressions. I was able to see less than half the speakers due to the many simultaneous break-out sessions that went on, however, here is what I took away : [Read more]
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